Universal credit

[FirstTimeMama21]

Hi

I have separated from my partner and need to apply for universal credit but I do t want him to know.

We are not married. We have children. Neither of us have ever applied for any benefits before, together or individually.

Will he be notified if I apply?

Thanks

Do you live together?

Will he be notified if I apply?

No. But if there are custody issues it may come up.

If you're separated and living in separate properties it won't be an issue.

If you're separated and still sharing a home, it may well be. I haven't come across it in UC (yet), but I had a case a few years ago where the DWP wouldn't accept that a couple had split up but were still living under the same roof. (I'm afraid I don't know how that ended, because I went to work on a different project and a colleague took over that case.)

No, but if your living together you might struggle to open a single persons claim. You need to prove youre living completely separately lifes.

Thanks everyone. We're no longer living together so it seems like he won't be notified.

There are no custody issues either

I really appreciate the advice.

Glad it's working out for you OP.

Contact Citizens Advice Help To Claim service and they will talk you through what you need to do

Looking for more advice...

On the form it asks for my landlord details. I am currently in a tricky situation, renting a property from my ex partner's mother. Again, I wouldn't want her to know about my claim as she will inform my ex partner.

Why is it asking for my landlord's details? Will they contact her to check the details of my lease or inform her of my claim?

They won't contact your landlord with your say so first, nor without reason. They'll let you know if they want to contact your landlord, and you can tell them not to.

But keep in mind if there's anything wrong with your tenancy agreement or housing cost proof, and there's no other way to confirm it besides UC contacting your landlord and you tell them they can't, then you might not be able to get the housing element.

Contacting your landlord is if you are claiming the housing element of universal credit.

Yes they can speak to your landlord to ask for a tenancy agreement and verify the rent details.

Thanks for the advice.

This is currently an informal arrangement and so I don't have a tenancy agreement so it's unlikely I can claim the housing element without her knowing.

Would I also need a tenancy agreement to apply for a single person discount on council tax?

Yes, because with no tenancy agreement you can't prove that you're liable for council tax, if you're a lodger then she'd be paying it

Also be aware that an 'informal arrangement' can get very messy if she decides to ask you to leave etc as there's no legal notice in your arrangements

Without details if a formal tenancy agreement you won’t be able to claim the Housing element of Universal Credit. Even if you did have a proper tenancy agreement you might be suspected of having a “contrived” tenancy and therefore not able to claim the housing element.

why are you concerned about your ex knowing you are claiming UC?

If paying rent in exchange for sole use of a property then a tenancy will be implied with all the protections for the tenant that comes with that including requirement for proper eviction etc

Realistically your options are:

• Move out and get a formal rented property so you can claim what you are entitled to
• Stay but have everything formalised so you can claim, this will mean that she as your landlord is aware of the claim
• Stay as you are living wise but accept you won’t get what you are potentially entitled to from UC